Trader Vic's Dark Rum 1L
Trader Vic's Dark Rum 1L is an 80-proof (40% ABV) blend of West Indies rum — molasses-distilled and aged in oak barrels — made as the house mixing rum for the tiki empire founded by Victor J. "Trader Vic" Bergeron, inventor of the Mai Tai (1944). Bottled in a full liter for the home bar. It's available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 40% (80 proof)
- Size: 1L
- Style: Dark rum — blend of West Indies rum, oak-aged
- Base: molasses-distilled; brand of Phillips Distilling Company (Princeton, MN)
- Origin: West Indies blend, bottled in the USA
- House: Trader Vic's — the original tiki restaurant brand (est. 1934)
The Mai Tai's Own Rum
Victor Bergeron didn't just invent the Mai Tai — he built the rum program behind it. Trader Vic's private-label rums are the house pours of the tiki restaurants themselves, and the Dark Rum is the workhorse: a column-still-style dark rum with rich body but not too much sweetness, designed to carry a cocktail rather than dominate it. One enthusiast review calls it "by far the darkest of the bunch" with the lighter character typical of column-still dark rums — exactly what a Mai Tai or a dark-and-stormy build wants. Browse rum, explore the store's Trader Vic's shelf, or browse more dark rums built for mixing.
Tasting Notes
Retailer-described (no official brand tasting notes exist): caramel, molasses and vanilla with a smattering of warm baking spice; rich body, not too sweet; dark sugarcane sweetness, toffee and a hint of tropical fruit and oak; smooth vanilla finish.
How to Enjoy
This is a mixing rum first: build a proper Mai Tai (dark rum, lime, orgeat, orange curaçao), a dark and stormy, or a rum old fashioned. The liter format is built for batching.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Trader Vic?
Victor J. Bergeron, founder of the Trader Vic's tiki restaurant empire and inventor of the Mai Tai in 1944.
Is this the 151-proof rum?
No — this is the 80-proof (40% ABV) Dark Rum. The 151 Overproof is a separate, much stronger product.
What is it best for?
Tiki cocktails — Mai Tais, dark and stormies, rum punches — where an oak-aged dark rum adds depth without overwhelming.
The tiki legend's house rum, in a full liter — order Trader Vic's Dark Rum 1L online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.